The third International Day of Zero Waste, organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), will take place on March 30, 2025. This year’s topic, “Towards Zero Waste in Fashion and Textiles,” emphasizes the critical role of the rapidly expanding fashion and textiles sector in combating the global waste pollution challenge. Advocates believe the sector can embody the zero-waste mission by improving global waste management, lowering garbage production, and encouraging sustainable consumption and manufacturing trends.
Two to eight percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and nine percent of the microplastic pollution that enters the oceans each year are caused by the fashion and textile industry. Every year, 92 million tonnes of textile waste is produced globally, found The Global Fashion Agenda. In addition, it uses 215 trillion liters of water, which is the same as 86 million Olympic-sized pools. The production of textiles involves an estimated 15,000 chemicals, some of which build up in the environment over decades.
“The fashion and textile sector is fueling mass overconsumption and waste pollution. And as the industry continues to rapidly grow, so will its environmental impact, unless a shift towards circularity and sustainable production and consumption is taken by all actors,” said Jacqueline Alvarez, the Chief of UNEP’s Chemicals and Health Branch. “The International Day of Zero Waste 2025 will promote a more circular sector and the recognition of textile waste as a valuable resource.”
Zero-Waste Day will be marked through events and activities around the world, with the goal of raising awareness of national, subnational, regional, and local zero-waste programs and their contributions to sustainable development.
“Achieving zero waste in fashion and textiles cannot be an isolated effort,” added Alvarez. “It requires determined action from all stakeholders, with benefits for all. Reducing pollution will at the end bring economic and environmental gains for all of society.”
